Manchester United took a huge step towards retaining their Premier League title when they beat West Ham United 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday after playing more than half the match with 10 men.
Manchester United needed a stunning second-half equaliser from Wayne Rooney and a rare goal from Wes Brown to beat Newcastle United 2-1.
Champions League holders Liverpool beat Sunderland 1-0 as Xabi Alonso scored through a free kick.
Late goals from William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky gave Premier League leaders Arsenal a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday as champions Manchester United slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers. In another match, Steven Gerrard inspired fifth-placed Liverpool to a 3-0 victory at Newcastle United.
Manchester United will kick-off their title defence away to West Bromwich Albion on August 13, the Premier League said on Friday. Runners-up Chelsea are also away from home on the opening day of the 2011/12 season, when they head to FA Cup finalists Stoke City.
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has been banned for two games following his sending-off during the 4-1 home defeat by Liverpool on Saturday.
Manchester United enjoyed a stroll in the spring sunshine on Saturday as they eased to a 2-0 home win over Fulham to open a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho dismissed speculation linking him with a return to Real Madrid, on Monday, saying he wants to stay on as Manchester United manager beyond his current contract.
Holders Manchester United were given a tough draw in the last 16 of the Champions League when they were paired with Italian champions and Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Friday. Another heavyweight game will feature Real Madrid and Liverpool, champions 14 times between them, while last year's runners-up Chelsea were paired with Juventus.
A round-up of weekend action in the main European leagues.
Leaders Manchester United will meet Premier League rivals Reading in the FA Cup fifth round.
IMAGES from Premier League matches played on Saturday.
After a close season in which he said he wanted to leave the club but ended up staying at Old Trafford, all eyes were on Paul Pogba as Manchester United began their Premier League campaign on Sunday. Yet following a 4-0 home win over Chelsea, in which the French midfielder set up the third and fourth goals, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was full of praise for the former Juventus star.
This and more from the happenings in the world of footbal.
Leicester pushed forward after the interval but were caught out on the break in the 64th minute when Ritchie's pass released Wilson who coolly rounded Schmeichel before sliding home.
Manchester United beat Watford 4-1 to reach their 18th FA Cup final.
Andy Carroll helped himself to a hat-trick as Newcastle United stunned Aston Villa 6-0 to mark a memorable home return to the Premier League on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard saved two penalties against his former club to inspire Everton to a 4-2 shootout win over Manchester United on Sunday which sent them into the FA Cup final for the first time since 1995. Howard saved United's first two spot-kicks from Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand after a turgid semi-final ended 0-0 after extra time at Wembley Stadium.
A round-up of Wednesday's action in the UEFA Champions League.
Two Steven Gerrard penalties helped Liverpool to a crushing 3-0 victory at bitter rivals Manchester United on Sunday to leave them breathing down the necks of Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Manchester United crushed Derby County 4-1 away while Everton beat Aston Villa 3-1 at Goodison Park on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. United were pushed all the way by the Championship (second division) strugglers in the League Cup semi-finals last month but cruised home this time with goals by Nani, Darron Gibson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Danny Welbeck.
Bolton Wanderers moved off the bottom of the Premier League and out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 home defeat of Manchester City on Sunday. A poor game was settled by two late goals, the first a close-range effort from Ricardo Gardner and the second an own goal from City defender Richard Dunne.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted it would be very hard to finish in the top four after his team's insipid 2-1 loss at Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.
Manchester United moved top of the Premier League on Saturday after Dimitar Berbatov struck in the last minute to give them a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is ready to bid for Liverpool ace striker Fernando Torres and battle it out with Chelsea to get the Spanish forward.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Jose Mourinho was delighted that Chelsea made a winning start to their Champions League campaign on Wednesday, but said he was not happy that Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal had all lost their opening matches.
Liverpool have extended captain Jordan Henderson's contract, the Premier League side said on Tuesday, putting an end to speculation over his future at the Merseyside club.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was on target again to help the hosts crush bottom club Portsmouth 5-0 and return to the top of the Premier League on Saturday. Liverpool overcame the dismissal of Sotiros Kyrgiakos to beat Everton 1-0 in a fierce Merseyside derby at Anfield to move into the top four for the first time since October.
A third successive league victory put Leicester City back above Chelsea into third place on goal difference with 23 points from 11 games.
Arsenal went top of the Premier League when they beat West Ham United 2-0 with goals from Denilson and Cesc Fabregas on Saturday despite playing for more than half the match at the Emirates with 10 men.
Manchester City moved back into third place and almost guaranteed Champions League qualification thanks to a 3-1 home victory against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium.
Darron Gibson fired holders Manchester United through to the last four of the English League Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford that ended Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of a third successive final.
Aymeric Laporte's late header sealed a deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur
The Gunners will take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fifth round.
A club of Manchester United's stature should be vying for silverware on all fronts, midfielder Ander Herrera said, adding that a win in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on Saturday would raise spirits after a poor season. Louis van Gaal's men, who finished fifth in the Premier League this campaign, failed to qualify for the Champions League for a second time in three seasons and hope to win their first trophy since taking home the Community Shield in 2013. "We have to be realistic. United should be fighting for every title. We didn't do that with the Champions League," Herrera told British media. "We didn't do that with the Premier League. So we have two options. Firstly, feel sorry for ourselves. Or, secondly, get this trophy for the fans, for our club and for ourselves."
Manchester United and Liverpool, England's two most successful clubs, will do battle in the third round of the FA Cup after the draw was made on Sunday.
And champions Arsenal face Blackburn Rovers in next month's FA Cup semi-finals in Cardiff.
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